UIVML 13

‘Still, I can’t cling to the imprinting alone. As a smokescreen, I’ll have to work on new product research as well—but I can probably base that on the idea I submitted as an assignment in my fourth year…….’

Ugh, even if I had ten bodies, it wouldn’t be enough to do all of that.

Still, if I can just get through this hurdle, I’ll be able to pursue my research freely without my family suspecting anything.

But will Mother really give her permission……?

Luciana forced an awkward smile in an atmosphere that felt like a one-on-one interview.

‘When I was little, maybe because I was born late, she seemed to dote on me in her own way.’

But ever since Luciana entered the Academy, Crevian must have decided that even her talented youngest daughter needed to be raised strictly, because she would occasionally show a stern side.

‘She’s not going to scold me for having no plan, is she……?’

As the silence dragged on and Luciana grew tense, an unexpected question startled her.

“Do you have no thoughts of marriage?”

“W-What?!”

What on earth is she talking about now?

“It’s not like I even have a fiancé yet!”

“Dear? Lucie getting married……?”

“That’s right, Mother! It’s still too early!”

The moment the word “marriage” left the Marchioness’s lips, the once-peaceful dining table turned into chaos.

“You two—do you realize that Lucie will be twenty-one before long?”

“Well, but…….”

At Crevian’s calm rebuttal, everyone fell silent as if on cue.

“Luciana, you don’t have to devote yourself solely to business. If you wish, I can find you a fine husband who suits you. As for the engagement, you can handle that when the time comes.”

“Well, that is…….”

Marriage.

‘As a noble, it’s something I’ll have to do someday, and it’s not that I’ve never thought about it…….’

But right now, because of the imprinting, I can’t meet anyone other than the male lead.

I can’t exactly say that honestly. What am I supposed to do?

“My older brother is still unmarried—how could I possibly…….”

“What era do you think this is? Whoever goes first, goes first.”

“R-Right, Lucie. I’m really fine with it, so if you want to hold the wedding anytime, go ahead! I mean…… this is only if you want to get married, of course…….”

Mother sipped her tea as if it were no big deal, while my older brother fidgeted like someone watching a child left alone near water.

No matter what, if I showed even the slightest intention of choosing a groom right now, portraits of unmarried men would surely pile up in no time.

“Um…… for now, I want to focus on my work.”

“Is that so?”

If that’s what you want.

Crevian, cutting into grilled fish drizzled with fragrant lemon juice, nodded, leaving the two men—who were visibly brightening—to themselves.

“Very well. Try challenging yourself in whatever you do. You’re a smart child, so you’ll do well.”

“Yes, Mother. Thank you.”

Phew, what a relief. It seems I got through that safely.

‘Honestly, this worked out well. Marriage was something I’d have to address eventually anyway.’

So now, all Luciana had to do was use business as an excuse and devote herself wholeheartedly to her research.

‘……Today was the promised day, wasn’t it.’

128 Rodwell Street.

The day she would receive the research journal of the Duke of Cassio.

‘If I don’t want to be late for the appointment, I should leave now.’

After finishing breakfast, Luciana hurried up the stairs.

To retrieve the item, she first needed to summon Mary. Opening her bedroom door, Luciana immediately shook the bell cord hanging by the bedside.

“You called for me, miss?”

Chatty but diligent, Mary responded right away.

“Yes. Mary, could you run an errand for me? You just need to go here and come back.”

“Of course!”

An outside errand—it’s been a while! Is there a pastry shop dessert you’re craving, miss?

The innocent maid, unaware of anything, nodded eagerly and accepted the note Luciana handed her.

“Huh? Is this address correct?”

As expected, seeing the word “Rodwell”—far from any sweet dessert shop—she asked in confusion.

“Since I’ve graduated, I decided to do a bit of research here and there for a while. There’s a place that deals in unusual magical herbs that are hard to come by, so I put in a request.”

“But miss, this place isn’t a residential area or a shopping district—it’s somewhere mysterious. For such a suspicious place, the security is oddly good.”

Luciana agreed with that point as well. Since it was a place with an unclear purpose, it was ideal for contacting someone away from prying eyes.

“That’s what I mean. The procedures just to start a single transaction were so complicated. Maybe the owner is very closed-off? I guess that’s why they chose Rodwell as the meeting place.”

“Ah…… it must be a really secretive place, then? If you say so, miss.”

“Right? I had to dig around a lot just to find it.”

Mary, that’s all a lie. I’m sorry…….

It wasn’t something she should say after deceiving her so smoothly, but seeing Mary trust her so readily made Luciana’s conscience prick painfully.

“Go there, give them my alias, ‘Lilian,’ and show this. They’ll take care of the rest. I’ve already paid in advance, so just pick up the item.”

“Oh! You’re even using an alias?”

That was to prevent information from leaking if she kept in contact with the male lead—but Luciana had no choice but to brush it off again.

“For customer privacy?”

“Uh…… is that so?”

“Then I’m counting on you, Mary.”

Luciana hurriedly sent her off before simple-minded Mary could grow any more suspicious.

‘Please let there be a lot of meaningful information.’

Luciana watched anxiously as Mary departed on the errand.

“Mr. Connor, hello!”

“Oh, Mary. So you’re running an errand today?”

“Yes! This is the address!”

The coachman, who had been waiting in advance at Luciana’s instruction, greeted her warmly and took hold of the reins.

With a cry of “Hyah!”, the carriage set off, smoothly leaving the estate and heading down the paved road.

‘It’s a bit cold, but thankfully it’s not snowing, so it shouldn’t take too long.’

Mary tucked the most important item for today’s errand—a handkerchief—securely into her bosom, then parted the velvet curtain to look outside.

Rodwell Street was a place she had only heard of; it was her first time ever going there.

According to what senior servants had once told her, large noble families often used Rodwell when they wanted to handle matters or conduct transactions in secret.

She didn’t know whether that was true, but it certainly seemed like a fitting rumor for Rodwell—a quiet place where you couldn’t tell what sort of neighborhood it was.

Mary’s emerald-green eyes, out on an errand for the first time in a while, remained fixed on the scenery outside.

“Oh…… so this is Rodwell Street…….”

After passing the glittering shop district like a dollhouse, then a fairly refined middle-class neighborhood, they traveled a bit farther and arrived at an area so deserted and quiet it felt eerie.

“There isn’t even an ant in sight!”

Seeing Rodwell Street in person, Mary thought that perhaps the stories she’d heard before were true. It was that secretive and mysterious a place.

“Alright, we’ve arrived.”

“Ah!”

Torn between her determination to complete her mistress’s errand and her fear that made her want to go straight home, Mary stepped down from the carriage.

“…….”

Gulp.

The building before her was a perfectly ordinary two-story structure, but perhaps because there was no one else around, she couldn’t bring herself to step forward easily.

‘Miss said I had to go in alone…….’

The more she thought about it, the less she liked this arrangement.

Just what kind of person was the owner of this place to insist on such a troublesome method?

‘I-I’m my lady’s close maid! She entrusted me with a particularly important errand—I can’t back down now!’

Luciana had promised that there would be absolutely no danger, but scary was still scary. Clutching the handkerchief tightly, Mary steadied herself.

‘Please wait, miss! I’ll be right back……!’

Simple as she was, it didn’t take long for her to muster courage. Standing before the firmly closed door, Mary knocked loudly enough to be clearly heard inside.